JANUARY 2022

VOlUME 05 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2022
Legal But are they Accepted? The Psycho-Social Impact of Section 377 on the Lgbtqia+ Community: Pre and Post Abolishment in Delhi NCR, India
1Aditi Joshi, 2Mehak Madan,3Khushi Narang,4Megha Aggarwal
1,2,3,4Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi
DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v5-i1-21

Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT

Historical shreds of evidence show that the LGBTQIA+ community has been fighting for their basic rights for the longest time in India. A qualitative study was conducted to analyze experiences of different individuals belonging to the community living in Delhi NCR, India. Phenomenological approach was used to assess N=13 participants who were recruited using judgement purposive sampling and one-on-one interviews over Zoom were conducted with a semi-structured form of an interview which was developed involving questions around their challenges, the sociological impact, and their psychological journey. Thematic analysis was done and six key themes emerged- 1. No significant change in self-confidence and self-acceptance because of the abolishment 2. Fear of losing freedom and financial resources because of their identity 3. Greater acceptance from GenZ than any other generation 4. The law has changed but the perception and acceptance haven’t 5. Although the media representation has increased, it isn’t apt. 6. Need of established government policies for LGBTQIA+ community. Further studies on a larger scale will help us determine the issues faced by the community and ways to resolve them.

KEYWORDS:

LGBTQIA+, India, Qualitative study, Delhi NCR, Section-377, Phenomenological Approach

REFERENCES

1) Bhattacharya, Shamayeta; Ghosh, Debarchana (2020). Studying physical and mental health status among hijra, Kothi and transgender community in Kolkata, India. Social Science & Medicine, 265(), 113412–. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113412

2) Bockting, W., Coleman, E., Deutsch, M. B., Guillamon, A., Meyer, I., Meyer, W., Reisner, S., Sevelius, J., & Ettner, R. (2016). Adult development and quality of life of transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Current Opinion in Endocrinology.

3) Ghosh, A. (2020). After Coming Out: Parental Acceptance of Gay Men in India and the United States. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Published. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xh1408m

4) India Code: Section Details. (2021). Indiacode.nic.in. https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_5_23_00037_186045_1523266765688&orderno=434

5) India’s Relationship with the Third Gender – UAB Institute for Human Rights Blog. (2018, October 29). Uab.edu. https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2018/10/29/indias-relationship-with-the-third-gender/

6) International Journal of Law Management & Humanities. (2021, May 3). Rights of LGBTQ in India and the Struggle for Societal Acceptance. https://www.ijlmh.com/paper/rights-of-lgbtq-in-india-and-the-struggle-for-societal-acceptance/

7) Jain, D. (2013). Impact of the Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Delhi: An Empirical Study. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343267929_Impact_of_the_Decriminalization_of_Homosexuality_in_Delhi_An_Empirical_Study

8) Kar, A., & K. A, A. (2018). LEGAL RECOGNITION AND SOCIETAL REACTION ON SEXUAL MINORITIES: REFLECTIONS ON MORAL POLICING AND MENTAL HEALTH OF LGBT COMMUNITY IN INDIA. RSC, 10(2).

9) Misra, G. (2009). Decriminalising homosexuality in India. Reproductive Health Matters, 17(34), 20–28. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40647442

10) News Medical. (2006, October 23). 1,500 animal species practice homosexuality. News-Medical.net. https://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/10/23/1500-animal-species-practice/-homosexuality.aspx

11) Priya, P., & Kumar, A. (2020). Social Acceptance and Section 377: A Case Study of Transgender People in Jammu City. Gender Studies, 19(1), 137–156. https://doi.org/10.2478/genst-2021-0008

12) Ranade, K., Shah, C., & Chatterji, S. (2016). Making sense: Familial journeys towards self-acceptance of gay and lesbian family members in India. The Indian Journal of Social Work, 77, 437–458 .https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327883303_Making_sense_Familial_journeys_towards_self-acceptance_of_gay_and_lesbian_family_members_in_India

13) Rao, S., Mason, C. D., Galvao, R. W., Clark, B. A., & Calabrese, S. K. (2020b). “You are illegal in your own country”: The perceived impact of antisodomy legislation among Indian sexual and gender minorities. Stigma and Health, 5(4), 451–462. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000218

14) Rights of LGBTQ in India and the Struggle for Societal Acceptance - International Journal of Law Management & Humanities. (2021, May 3). International Journal of Law Management & Humanities. https://www.ijlmh.com/paper/rights-of-lgbtq-in-india-and-the-struggle-for-societal-acceptance/

15) Sarkar, M. (2021). SECTION 377 AND THE UNRESOLVED DILEMMA IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE. JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL), 8(3), 1–5. http://joell.in/vol-8issue-3-2021/

16) Scroll Staff. (2021, October 26). Marriage between only “biological man” and “biological woman” valid in India, Centre tells Delhi HC. Scroll.in; Scroll.in. https://scroll.in/latest/1008589/marriage-between-only-biological-man-and-biological-woman-valid-in-india-centre-tells-delhi-hc

17) Section 377 is History but Young LGBT Indians Need Concrete Policies to Protect them from Bullying. (2020, October 28). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/06/24/section-377-history-young-lgbt-indians-need-concrete-policies-protect-them-bullying

18) Shreya Raman. (2021, June 11). Denied Visibility In Official Data, Millions Of Transgender Indians Cant Access Benefits, Services. IndiaSpend; Indiaspend. https://www.indiaspend.com/gendercheck/denied-visibility-in-official-data-millions-of-transgender-indians-cant-access-benefits-services-754436

19) Sridhar, R., & Jenifer, N. R. (2019). Psychosocial Impact of IPC Section 377 on Gay Men in Chennai and Bangalore. REDEFINING PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AND PRACTICE IN THE PRESENT SCENARIO: A Multi-disciplinary Perspective, 9(2).

20) Sudarshan Varadhan. (2021, June 7). Indian court calls for sweeping reforms to respect. LGBT rights. Reuters; Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indian-court-calls-sweeping-reforms-respect-lgbt-rights-2021-06-07/

21) TIMESOFINDIA.COM. (2018, July 10). Being gay is against Hindutva, it needs a cure: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy. The Times of India; Times Of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/being-gay-is-against-hindutva-it-needs-a-cure-bjp-mp-subramanian-swamy/articleshow/64927333.cms

22) Tomori, C., McFall, A. M., Srikrishnan, A. K., Mehta, S. H., Solomon, S. S., Anand, S., Celentano, D. D. 2016. “Diverse Rates of Depression Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Across India: Insights from a Multi-site Mixed Method Study.” AIDS and Behavior 20 (2): 304–316.

23) Wandrekar, J. R., & Nigudkar, A. S. (2020). What Do We Know About LGBTQIA+ Mental Health in India? A Review of Research From 2009 to 2019. Journal of PsychosexualHealth, 2(1), 26–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/263183182091812

VOlUME 05 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2022

Indexed In

Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar